There had to be at least one… This Tuesday January 12, 2021 Health Minister Olivier Véran announced a first case of sever allergy to Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine – the only vaccine available before Moderna’s arrival in a few days – has been identified in France. A first case in the 138,000 people vaccinated as the minister explains: “we have (…) in the country a case of an adverse effect of an allergic nature which corresponds to the adverse effects observed abroad” Olivier Véran explains during his hearing by the Social Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
Five other cases have been "identified in France with Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine during the third week of the vaccination campaign: 4 allergic reaction cases, and 2 tachycardia cases" the ANSM explains in a release. Still according to the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products, their situation seems to have ended favorably.
As for the first case that – according to Olivier Véran – echoed to statistics reported from other country, naming 1 case for 100,000 vaccinated. As for severe adverse effects, scientists have no detailed explanations, but think they happen because the vaccine includes polyethylene glycol (PEG), common in many products such as shampoos and toothpastes, but so far not used for vaccines.
As for counterindications, the health authorities have been requiring people who already have history of severe allergies during previous vaccines, not to get vaccinated against Covid now. However, “it is possible to vaccinate with the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine patients who have a serious drug or food allergy”, the French Allergology Federation said.
